Russell Crowe has apologized to his Twitter followers for issuing a flurry of anti-circumcision Tweets, some bordering on anti-Semitic.
“Wasn’t intending offense, certainly wasn’t intending to provide fodder for lazy journalists,” the actor Tweeted on Friday, after his polarizing Tweets began to make headlines around the web. “I can’t apologize for my heartfelt belief.
“I have a deep and abiding love for all people of all nationalities, I’m very sorry that I have said things on here that have caused distress,” he added. “My personal beliefs aside I realize that some will interpret this debate as me mocking the rituals and traditions of others. I am very sorry.”
On Thursday, the 47-year-old star ignited a debate regarding the medical procedure (in a Tweet that has since been deleted – click HERE to see a screengrab), writing, “Circumcision is barbaric and stupid. Who are you to correct nature? Is it real that GOD requires a donation of foreskin? Babies are perfect.”
After re-Tweeting supportive messages from several of his followers, Russell sent a message to Eli Roth – his director for the upcoming action flick, “The Man with the Iron Fists” – imploring the director/actor and all of his “Jewish friends” to stop the long-standing tradition of ceremonial cutting.
“Many jewish friends, I love my Jewish friends, I love the apples and the honey and the funny little hats but stop cutting yr babies @eliroth,” Russell wrote, referencing the traditional Jewish headwear known as a kippah or yarmulke.
Russell’s rant soon reached a boiling point, prompting the New Zealand-born father of two to issue request that followers who disagree with his opinion on the matter should cease to follow him.
“I will always stand for the perfection of babies, I will always believe in God, not man’s interpretation of what God requires,” he wrote, before continuing, “Last of it, if u feel it is yr [sic] right 2 cut things off yr babies please unfollow and f**k off, I’ll take attentive parenting over barbarism.”
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